Robert Plant to miss Meltdown Festival due to court case

Legendary rocker Robert Plant has been forced to cancel his planned performance at this year's Meltdown Festival

Robert Plant has been forced to cancel a planned festival appearance because of an impending court case.

The rock legend has withdrawn from this year's Meltdown Festival in June as he is in the midst of a case surrounding the origins of Led Zeppelin's classic rock track 'Stairway To Heaven'.

A statement explained: "It's with great disappointment that Robert Plant must cancel his appearance at this year's Meltdown Festival."

The week-long event helps to raise awareness of the British Red Cross and Refugee campaigns, and the 67-year-old rocker was eager to offer his support.

The statement continued: "Robert has been enthusiastic to help in any way to the increased awareness and support of so many powerless and distraught peoples. Therefore the opportunity afforded at Guy Garvey's Meltdown was an event that Robert was passionately drawn to."

Plant and his Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page are currently fighting a law suit brought against them by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for Randy Wolfe who was a part of the band Spirit.

He wrote an instrumental called 'Taurus' in 1967, which, it has been alleged, was subsequently stolen by Led Zeppelin for their iconic tune.

Los Angeles district judge Robert Klausner previously said the similarities between the first two minutes of 'Stairway to Heaven' and Spirit's song 'Taurus' "transcend" the standard "four-chord progression" that is commonly used in songwriting.

He explained: "While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure.

"What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works ... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."